You are a small, pixelated human life in a village known as the Pelican town. Living on my late grandfather’s farm is to torment the land, improve the amenities of the small village, and develop meaningful relationships with fellow town residents.
Such a desire for idyllic simplicity lies at the heart of Stardew Valley2016 agricultural simulations have transformed Thraks Harvesting into an uplifting community activity. Almost ten years later, the game is a global hit, Over 41 million copies are sold And it’s a prime example of the growing genre known as “comfortable games.”
A brief history of meditation video games
Cozy games are the future of gaming
Mary Quiche, Community Head of Streaming Giant Twitch, was one of the first people to review Stardew Valley After it was released on PC in 2016.
“Stardew ValleyMeditative activities often lead to personal reflection in the real world,” Quiche wrote to her. Agricultural SIM GameSpot review. “It’s a game that pulls your curiosity as often as your mind. Packed with rewarding opportunities, Stardew Valley Motivate naturally with blissful optimism. ”
Stardew Valley It had a huge impact on a generation tired of filming (or “shmup”)game. “I think it might be the most prolific example of what a comfortable game is, at least for this generation of gamers,” Quiche now says. “When I played Stardew Valleyit almost felt like time had frozen. She told Mashable. Stardew Dreams – “The best dream I’ve ever had,” she says, waking up “in the sense of an agency.”
Since then, cozy games have evolved in a decent and modest way. Twitch’s “Chill” stream tag, For example, it is the most viewed tag of 2024, and has been added to 3.43 million broadcasts so far in 2025. Games like Stardew Valley and Megapoplar Animal Crossing It continues to win millions in both sales and convulsions.
“It’s good for you to be engaged in real play.”
So what makes a comfortable game? According to players, they tend to be less stimulating and are built around an aesthetic that many of us call “cute” or “soft.” Many involve life simulations – running a coffee shop or The power to wash particularly dirty towns. Most importantly, a comfortable game isn’t really about winning. They encourage players to enjoy the ride.
It’s becoming more popular During the pandemic, cozy games have become an oasis for many during that period Increased anxiety and depression. Gamers often explain that cozy games are entering a relaxed meditation state and helping to reduce daily stress. And science can explain why.
The Psychology Behind Mindfulness and the Cozy Games
“They’re a veteran video game researcher at the University of California Irvine,” said Kurt Squire, a professor of informatics and a veteran video game researcher at the University of California. “It’s also good to be surrounded by cuteness and positive things.”
Research suggests that games are useful Achieving a contemplative state of flowthat’s why there are more creators Explicitly design video games for mindfulness and meditation. The games investigated include nature-driven flow or Stardew Valley precursor Harvest Moon. And then there’s a game of breathing. That’s why Squire received a grant to build and study with the help of neuropsychologist Richard Davidson, founder of Center for Health Minds.
In 2019, the Center for Healthy Minds published a study showing that specially designed video games can be useful Young players train attention Minimize distractions. This was essential to construct a positive emotional response, improving intensive meditation and open mindfulness practices.
Tammi Kral, one of the research authors and senior scientist in healthy mind innovation, says mechanics are just as important as cozy atmospheres. The game “can have really beautiful art and music, but if the mechanism is frustrating, it won’t settle,” she says. “Some games may seem unsettled, but if someone can play the game easily and enjoy it, they may find relaxation.”
The game can also promote a sense of satisfaction and self-awareness with a low learning curve that helps to curb frustration. That final point, according to Kral, is essential. Clinical research shows that such games reduce the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in players, similar to mindfulness practices.
Casual video gamer Shows greater engagement and better rejuvenate your mood In response to stressful stimuli Low heart rate and blood pressure At a level comparable to meditation. A study by researchers at the University of Central Florida in Orlando found it to be one of the specific low-stress puzzle games. Sushi Cat 2had a measurable effect on the player’s emotional state.
The cute kitten definitely helped.
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Cozy games show the evolution of digital habits
Cozy games, and Twitch streamers who play them for thousands of viewers every day, should not explicitly promote them as reducing cortisol or inducing flow conditions. Still, the so-called comfortable creators are riding the waves Wellness and Mindfulness-centered trends On platforms like Tiktok.
Like a creator Jubileewhispers Stream either whimsical and cozy game Popular diorama building game small gradeand like a nostalgic game Super Mario Odyssey, While adding a calming whispering element. While Twitch users spend time looking at cozy gaming content, Tiktok’s cozy creators are dedicated to calming the page.
Also known as Kennedy cozy.games At Tiktok, we’ve become something of a community spokesman. She first got into what the industry later called a “comfortable game,” and felt stressed out of law school. The budding, cozy gaming community, primarily on Instagram and primarily female-centric people, felt like an oasis of welcoming compared to other gaming spaces.
“We always stumble upon discomfort in our lives, especially in games. That’s how we approach the problems that define you.”
When Kennedy began to perform Harvest Moonshe says something has been clicked. “I grew up playing platformers Mario, And Shooter. There was really no moment of slowing down and being there. Harvest Moon That was the first moment for me that happened. I was like, “This is where I want to be forever and forever.” ”
Dedicated much of her life to a comfortable game has changed Kennedy’s own perception of time and mental health. “I think it’s really worth being able to read your own emotions,” she says. “As time passed, I realized that you can’t force yourself to do it because you want to do it. Sometimes your brain isn’t ready to do that activity.
“Instead of beating yourself over that, I’ve come to realize that you have to work with where your brain is at the moment.
Nowadays, cozy games are sold by large game developers like Nintendo and Xbox, and have their own category for the annual game awards. Still, Kennedy says the community remains overwhelmingly uncontradictory, along with the main drama of the genre that stems from whether the game is “cozy enough.”
This is a rare feat in a often exclusive industry. online Hate and harassment are still a big problem Strong moderation is essential for beneficial gaming experiences between women in the game space and people of color. However, in removing the pressure of real-life socialization, these spaces can offer great benefits to members of marginalized communities, such as trans players and gamers of colour, Kral says.
Labels may also be important. People who play ritually and have been blamed for their interest in video games that are “not so serious” may find themselves uncomfortable with claiming to be more than enthusiasts and find community and identity as “comfortable gamers.” And there are a lot of things written about Create a new cohort of Covid-19 lockdown gamersit also encouraged lifelong gamers to take a slow breath.
“Now they see a community of people who are very proud to say, ‘Yeah, I’m a gamer. There’s a way for me to play a little different game here, and I’m proud that it’s different,” Kennedy said.
Cozy games promote mindfulness even if you’re not playing them
People are not just Performance So is the cozy game I’m watching Others do so and live on their voices through them. According to Twitch’s Kish, users want a stress-free, relaxed, immersive environment, says Twitch’s Kish. “It’s about understanding and empathizing not only to relieve stress, but actually finding commonalities between others and other gamers,” she points out. “You’re not just watching games on Twitch, you’re actually hanging out with streamers and going out with everyone who’s chatting.”
While more research is needed on the benefits of watching others play, Squire and Kraal both say that watching a cozy stream can have a similar effect on playing a cozy game.
“There’s a lot of research in general, there’s a lot of research that’s unique to the game, indicating that people can have subrogational experiences,” explained Kral. “Just by watching someone else do something, you can get and you can share that experience.” The mirror neurons, essential to the building of empathy, fire when you watch video games just like you do when you’re staring at your fellow human.
There are also positive benefits to watching others navigate less comfortable, more complex games. “There’s a kind of sense of friendship and connection,” Squire said. “Part of that is also learning to reconstruct your mistakes as an opportunity to grow. It’s revelation to see others do it.” In other words, a comfortable creator may be modeling better socioemotional processing for your audience.
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And that could mean a lot to the streaming community as a whole. Kish says game developers who want to meet the evolving demands of cozy players may choose to invest more in building games that are potentially replayable. If you narrow down all the benefits you can do from playing a cozy game, you might have a little more juice left to see others do.
“It’s like a slightly cheaper and simple way to potentially gain some of these benefits and experiences that real players have,” says Kral.
“That separation allows them to passively enjoy their experience,” adds Quiche. “The reality is that we will always stumble upon discomfort in our lives, especially in games. It’s the way you can get closer to your problems and the obstacles you face.”
Young people spend More and more time onlineI’m looking for it Socialization and relationship Often in unhealthy digital environments. And that’s where the game centers around social emotional learning (its many of its cozy games are mean to be a transmitter).
“It’s very important that you spend time with yourself and do activities that allow you to regulate your emotions after a long day,” says Kennedy. “Even if it’s about 5-10 minutes a day, even if it’s something you’re spending intentional time with yourself, you have that routine.”
A cozy game adds, “can be really beneficial to your mental health.”
